Showbiz money trail

Study puts TV watching just behind eating

If television execs are worried that their audience is being lost to social media, a recent survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics should reassure them. According to the BLS, 78.3% of the population aged 15 and over watches more than 3½ hours of TV each day — a stat that should ensure TV’s continued dominant position as an advertising medium and, of course, a revenue generator for the media congloms that own networks and stations.

The percentage of Americans who watch TV is higher than the percentage of those who work (44.6%) or engage in household activities (74%). In fact, the data show that watching TV bested every category of daily activity among U.S. civilians except personal care (100%), sleeping (99.9%), and eating and drinking (95.9%).

The survey questioned people over 15, including high school and college students, retirees and nonworking spouses. BLS data show that men who watch TV spend more time (3.75 hours) in front of the tube on an average day than do women (3.28 hours). As might be expected, more Americans watch television on weekends (80.1%) than on weekdays (77.6%).

The survey did not ask how many used their DVRs to skip the commercials.